Automatic railroad-crossing gate



July 30, 1929. w. E. MULCH AUTOMATIC RAILROAD CROSSING GATE Filed July 27, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor mildews Ejlfaiak 4" I ttornqy July 30, 1929. w. E. MULCH 1,722,337

AUTOMATIC RAiLROAD nossme GATE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27. 1928 STOPIL Inventor W 12 2mm July 30, 1929. w, MULCH 1,722,337

AUTOMATIC RAILROAD CROSSING GATE Filed July 27, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet a Inventor Azzornqy Patented July 30, 1929.

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earanr trier.

WILLIAM E. 'MULCH, OF WILLIAMS, NEBRASKA.

AUTOMATIC RAILROAD-CROSSING GATE.

Application filed July 27,

The present invention relates to improve ments in railroad crossing gates and has reference more particularly to a vertically swinging gate and is automatically operated by the approach of a train whereby said gate will be swung downwardly to a horizontal operative position across the inner sectlon ot the highway with the railroad track to warn approaching vehicles travelling on the highway of the approach of a train."

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide an automatic railroad crossing gate that includes a horizontally pivoted vertically swinging gate normally held in a raised and operative posit on by means of a counter weight, a cable belng connected to the gate for swinging the same downwardly to an operative position, said cable being connected at its other end to a winding drum, means being associated with the drum for engagement with the flange of the wheels of the approaching train for actuating said drum to wind the cable therearound and move the gate to .an operative lowered position.

Still a further object is to provide an automatic railroad crossing gate of the above mentioned character wherein the winding drum cannotbe actuated by a train travelling in the opposite direction, additional means being provided for yie-ldably supporting the winding drum so as to prevent breakage of the cable after the same has been completely wound around the drum and the wheels of the train continue to pass over the actuating means for said drum.

A further object is to provide an automatic. railroad crossing gate of the above mentioned character which will at all times be positive and eificient in its operation, the same beingturther simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable and further well adaptednto the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent during the course of the'tol-lowing description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a. top plan view of the auto matic railroad crossing gate embodying my 1928. Serial Nd. 295,708.

invention, showing the .gate in a lowered operative position,

Figure 2 1s a side elevation thereof,

Figure 3 is a detail view of the vertical post-showing the manner in which the vertically "swinging crossing gate is mounted thereon and also disclosing the actuating cable as associated with the post and the gate, Figure 4 is a detail end elevation of the winding drum, the supporting means therefor and the disc that controls the actuation of the drum, 7 3 v Figure 5 is a sectional View takenapproxiinately on the line 55 of Figure 1 Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66, of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 7 is adetail elevational view of the inner face of the winding drum showing the spaced recesses formed therein, 7

Figure 8 is a view of the adjacent face of the ratchet toothcarrying member that .00- operates with the recess face of the winding drum, I

Figure .9 is'a detail of the guide means for the cables secured on one of the ties and Figure 10 is a detail of the shock absorber that extends upwardly from the top of the post for engagement with thetree end of the vertically swinging crossing gate.

In the drawings wherein for the-purpose of illustration is shown the preferred ,em-

-sediment of my invention, thenumeral 1 designates a vertical post and has its lower,

end anchored in a concrete base .2 and is stuck into the ground ad acent one side of the highway'A and also adjacent one side ot the railroad tracks B as clearly suggested in Figure 1.

A similar vertical post 3 is arranged adjacent the other side of the highway directly opposite the post 1 and the lower end 'ofthei cross- 1 ment between the segmental bracket 5. A counter weight 8 is carried by the pivoted larger end of the crossing gate forming arm 7 for normally holding the same in a raised inoperative position as suggested in Figure 3.

A warning sign 9 is carried by the intermediate portion of the vertically swinging arm 7 and this sign may be illuminated in any manner well known in the art for warning 'ap proaching drivers of vehicles travelling on the highway.

A shock absorber unit is associated with each of the posts for cooperation with the vertically swinging arm 7 and to this end the post 1 is formed with a recess 10that extends downwardly from the top of the post in which is slidable the plunger 11 and a bumper head 12 is carried b the upper end of said plunger.

An expansi le coil spring 13 encircles the upper portion of the plunger 14 for disposition between the bumper head 12 and the upper end of the post 1 for normally urging the plunger upwardly in the path of the vertical swinging movement of the arm 7 in a down ward direction.

A similar plunger 14 is operable within a vertical recess 15 formed in the upper end portion of the post 3 and a bumper head 16 is secured on the upper end of this plunger 14.

An eXpansible coil spring 17 encircles the upper portion of the plunger 14 for disposition between the top of the post Sand the bumper head 16.

' bumper head 16 is locate-d so as to receive the outer free end of the arm 7 when the crossing gate is lowered as shown in Figure 10.

The actuating means for lowering the crossing gate will now be specifically described. A concrete base 20'that is located inwardly of one of the rails B has supported thereon an open top housing 21 in which is arranged for vertical movement, the transversely disposed shaft 22 and this shaft is normally maintained in elevated position by means of the expansible coil spring 23 and the vertically movable block 24 positioned beneath the respeo tive end portions of the shaft 22 which spring and block constitutes a yieldable mounting for the shaft, the purpose of which will be presently described.

Secured on the outer end of the shaft 22 for rotation therewith and arranged within the housing 21 is the sleeve 25. An enlarged fiange 26 is formed on the outer end of this sleeve 25, the outer peripheral edge of which is adapted for frictionalengagement with the side of the head of the rail or track. Carried by the inner end of the sleeve 25 for rotation therewith is the disk 27 that is of a diameter smaller than the flange 26 and formed on the outer face of this disk 27 at equally spaced points are the ratchet teeth 28, the construction of which is clearly shown in Figure 8.

The purpose of these ratchet teeth will also i to provide an interlocking connection between the winding drum and the sleeve and the shaft on which said sleeve is keyed.

An expansible coil spring 31 encircles the inn-er end portion of the shaft 22 for disposition between the innermost end of the win-ding drum and the adjacent side of the houswinding drum and the sleeve and the shaft on which the sleeve is keyed only when the flange 26 is turned in one direction.

When the flange is rotated in the opposite direction, the ratchet teeth will ratchet over the recesses and will not cause the actuation of the winding drum. 7

A cable 32 is secured at one end to the drum 29 and is adapted to be wound therearound and alsounwound therefrom. This cable extends through a suitable tubular guide 83 that has communication with the front end of the housing 21 in the manner as shown in Figure 6 and is furthermore guided between the superimposedpulleys 34 mounted in a suitable bracket 35 on one of thecrosstie D as shown in Figure 9. I

The cable is trained over an additional pulley 36 supported in an opening 37 formed in the lower portion of the post 1 and the forward end of the cable is attached to the vertically swinging arm 7 as at 38 with reference more particularly to Figures 2and 3 of the drawings. r

i The operation of my improved automatic railroad crossing gate maybe briefly stated as follows. Normally the parts are arranged as shown in Figure 3 whereby the gate or arm 7 is maintained in a raised inoperative position by means of the counter weight 8 and the cable 32 is unwound from the drum 29.

As a train approaches the highway "travelling in the direction of the arrows, the flange C of the wheels of the train will frictionally engage with the peripheral edge of the flange 26 to rotate the same in such a-direction as to result in the winding drum 29 being-rotated to wind up the cable 32 on the drum and the drum is brought into operation by means of the cooperating ratchet teeth and recesses as heretofore described.

The winding up of the cable upon the drum will cause the arm 7 to swing {rOW'IlYVfLI'CllY between the guide brackets 5 so that said arm will be lowered to a horizontal position and will engage with tie bumper heads 12 and 16 as shown in Figure 2 thus warning drivers of the vehicles travelling on the highway 8 of the approach of a train at the highway in thesection with the railroad tracks.

The springs 23 will permit the upward and downward movement of the shafts 22 and the parts carried thereby after the cable is completely wound upon the drumto prevent breakage of the cable in case a train-consisting of a relatively large number of cars travels over the mechanism.

A train travelling in the opposite direction will not cause the drum 29 to be actuated as the ratchet teeth 28 will ratchet over the recesses 30.

As soon as the train has passed across the inner section, the counter weight 8 will swing the arm 7 upwardly and simultaneously unwind the cable from the drum.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing de-. scription, that I have provided an automatic railroad crossing gate that can be readily and easily installed without necessitating any alterations of the parts of the railroad tracks or the higl'iway and furtliern'iore a structure of this character will at all times be positive and efficient in its operation and will not necessitate the employment of a watchman or electrical means toactuate the operation of the gate.

lVhile I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be iniderstood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. A railroad crossing gate of the class described comprising in combination, a vertically swinging arm for supporting the same adjacent the inner section of the track with a highway, a rotatable snaft, a car wheel engaging unit secured on the shaft for rotating the same when a car wheel passes over said unit, a drum loosely mounted. on said shaft, a cable secured at one end to said drum and adapted to be normally unwound therefrom, the other end of the cable being connected to the vertically swinging arm, coacting means between the forementioned unit and said drum to interlock said parts together and wind the cable upon the drum, and simultaneously swing the gate downwardly to a lower operative position across the highway, and means for returning the gate to a raised inoperative position and unwinding the cable from said drum as the wheels of the train have. passed over and cleared the highway. a V

2. A railroad crossing gate of the class described comprising in combination, a vertically swinging arm for supporting the same adjacent the inner section of the track with a highway, a rotatable shaft, a car wheel engaging unit secured on the shaft for rotat ing the same when a car wheel passes over said unit, a drum loosely mounted on said shaft, a cable secured at one end to said drum and adapted to vbe normally unwound there from, the other end of the cable being connected to the vertically swinging arm, coacting means between the forementioned unit and said drum to interlock said parts together and wind the cable upon the drum,

port for said shaft.

3. A railroad crossing gate of the class described comprising in combination, a vertically swinging arm for supporting the same adjacent the inner section of the track with a l'righway, a rotatable shaft, a car wheel engaging unit secured on the shaft for rotating the samewhen a car wheel passes over said unit, a drum loosely mounted. on said shaft, a cable secured at one end to said drum and adapted to be normally unwound therefrom, the other end of the cable being connectedto the vertically swinging arm, coacting means between the forementioned unit and said drum to interlock said parts together and wind the cable upon the drum and simultaneously swing the gate downwardly to a lower operative position across the highway, and means for returning the gate to a raised inoperative position and unwinding the cable from said drum as the wheels of the train have passed over and cleared the highway, and a yieldable support for said shaft, and guide means for the cable.

4. An automatic railroadcrossing gate comprising in combination, a vertical post arranged adjacent the inner section of a highway with the tracks of a railroad, a vertically swinging arm pivotally mounted on the post, a counter weight carried by the pivoted end of the arm for normally holding the same in a raised inoperative position, a transverse shaft supported adjacent one of the rails, at a point remote from the highway, a car wheel engaging unit secured on said shaft for rotation therewith adapted to effect the rotation of the shaft during the travelling of the wheels over said unit, a drum loosely mounted on said shaft, a cable secured at one end to said drum and normally unwound therefrom,

the other end of the cable being connected to the vertically swinging arm, and pawl and ratchet mechanism operatively connecting the wheel engaging unit and said drum together in interlocking relation. for effectlng the winding of the cable on the drum and the lowering of the gate to an operative position across the highway when the wheels of a car travel over said unit in one direction.

5. An automatic railroad crossing gate comprising in combination, a vertical post arranged adjacent the inner section of a highway with the tracks of a railroad, a vertically swinging arm pivotally mounted on the post, a counter weight carried by the pivoted end of the arm for normally holding the same in a raised inoperative position, a transverse shaft supported adjacent one ofthe rails, at a point remote from the highway, a car wheel engaging unit secured on said shaft for rotation therewith adapted to effect the rotation of the shaft during the travelling of the wheels over said unit, a drum loosely mounted on said shaft, a cable secured at one end to said drum and normally unwound therefrom.

6. An automatic railroad crossing gate comprising in combination, a vertical post arranged adjacent the inner section of a highway with the tracks of a railroad, a vertically swinging arm pivotally mounted on the post, a counter weight carried by the pivoted end of the arm for normally holding the same in a raised inoperative position, a transverse shaft supported adjacent one of the rails, at a point remote from the highway, a car wheel engaging unit secured on said shaft for rotation therewith adapted to effect the rotation of the shaft during the travelling of the wheels over said unit, a drum loosely mounted on said shaft, a cable secured at one end to said drum and normally unwound therefrom, the other end of the cable being connected to the vertically swinging arm, and pawl and ratchet mechanism operatively connecting the wheel en aging unit and said drum together in interlocking relation for effecting the winding of the cable on the drum. and the lowering of the gate to an inoperative position across the highway when the wheels of a car travel over said unit in one direction, a yieldable support for said shaft, and means for maintaining the drum in frictional engagement with the car wheel engaging unit.

7. An automatic railroad crossing gate comprising in combination, a vertical post arranged adjacent the inner section of a highway with the tracks of a railroad, a vertically swinging arm pivotally mounted on the post, a counter weight carried by the pivoted end of the arm for normally holding the same in a raised inoperative position, a transverse shaft supported adjacent one of the rails, at a point remote from the highway, a car wheel engaging unit secured on said shaft for rotation therewith adapted to effect the rotation of the shaft during the travelling of the wheels over said unit, a drum loosely mount ed on said shaft, a cable secured at one end to said drum and normally unwound therefrom, the other end of the cable being connected to the vertically swinging arm, and pawl and ratchet mechanism operatively connecting the wheel engaging unit and said drum together in interlocking relation for effecting the winding of thecable on the drum and the lowering of the gate to an inoperative position across the highway when the wheels of a car travel over said unit in one direction, a yieldable support for said shaft, means for maintaining the drum in frictional engagement with the car wheel engaging unit, an additional post arranged at the opposite side of the highway, and spring urged bumpers extending upwardly from the respective posts with whichthe vertically swinging arm engages when in a lowered operative position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM E. MULCH. 

